The nature vs. nurture debate relates to the relative importance of an individual’s genetic “innate qualities” (nature) as compared to an individual’s personal experiences (nurture) in causing individual differences in physical and behavioral traits. From an animal trainers perspective the nature vs. nurture debate is heavily influenced by B.F. Skinner’s belief that the brain was essentially a empty box, also known as tabula rasa, meaning “blank slate” in Latin and originates from the Roman tabula. Skinner believed that in the epistemological theory that individuals are born without built-in mental content and that all of their knowledge comes from experience and perception. Fo

Human intellect at birth resembled a tabula rasa, a pure potentiality that is actualized through education and comes to know. Persian philosopher. Ibn Sina

At birth the (human) mind is a “blank slate” without rules for processing data, and that data is added and rules for processing are formed solely by one’s sensory experiences. John Locke

Obviously, the tabula rasa perspective favors the “nurture” side of the nature vs. nurture debate, when it comes to aspects of one’s personality, social and emotional behavior, and intelligence.

In the past 20 years or so neuroscience has settled this decades old debate about which has more influence over who you will become, nature vs. nurture, genetics vs. environment, has been settled. Turns out neither dominate, it takes a proper blending of both, meaning not only are the genetics influential and the interactions with the environment you grow up in, but also the very process these gene and environment interactions occur also matters, making it three things that influence who you will become. So asking which is more important, nature or nurture is like asking which is more important, the tires on the left side of car or the tires on the right side of your car?

Instincts are not behaviors. Instincts are influences that help cause behaviors. Instincts are tendencies, internal pressures if you like, that help shape behaviors. These tendencies are passed along from one generation to the next via differential reproduction, i.e. those traits that improve survival and reproduction are passed on by the individuals who better survived and better reproduced due to these beneficial traits; those with other traits less beneficial to survival and reproduction did not pass along their traits as successfully.

But this is not the end of the story of instinctive behaviors. Because instincts are not behaviors but instead help cause behaviors, this means instinctive behaviors go through a period of plasticity, i.e. are adaptable in response to the organisms interactions with the environment.

Early childhood has HUGE impact on who the animal ends up becoming, both physically and mentally. Raise lizards on smaller branches and they end up with shorter legs. The entire system of the body is designed to be adaptable to the conditions the animal is born into. It could be born high in the Andes Mountains were it snows, or it could be born down by the beach where it never snows. Same genetics, very different environments with different vegetation, different predators, etc. Without this plasticity the animal would survive well only if it was born into locations that specifically match its instinctive tendencies. This flexibility to thrive within a wide variety of locations is also supported by other systems that allow them to adapt their instinctive behaviors to match the current conditions they live in as adults.

Though there are limits to this adaptive plasticity. Some behaviors, known as experience dependent behaviors, require certain experiences and without these experiences the physical trait or behavior will not develop. Think pushups result in bigger muscles. Don’t do the exercises, you won’t get the bigger muscles. Without scary experiences parrots will not develop defensive flocking or defensive perching behaviors. These behaviors can develop at any time in the animals life.

Similarly experience expectant behaviors also require certain experiences but at very specific times or stages of development. Cover a kittens eye for the wrong 14 days and the eye will become functionally blind for the entire life, cover it for the wrong 7 days and stereo vision and depth perception are lost for life.

So there are limits to how much instinctive behaviors can be adapted based on learning. If the learning does not occur within the correct time frame there may be no recovery of that trait. Most instinctive behaviors are experience dependent and thus can be altered throughout the animals life. Though alteration of such instinctive behaviors as an adult is much much harder than altering them while they are first being formed.

And lastly there is the epigenetic influence over instinctive behaviors. When you have intense experiences you may alter the way certain of your genes are expressed, i.e. are turned on or turned off. This can also be passed on to your children and even grandchildren. This means the intense experiences of your parents or grandparents may have altered who you are today.

So today we know that instinctive behaviors are passed on from one generation to the next but they are also heavily influenced through interactions with the environment. Thus ending the debate over nature vs. nurture. The answer is neither or both. Like asking which is more important the tires on the left side of your car or the tires on the right. You equally need both.

]]>https://www.libertywings.com/what-are-your-beliefs-on-nature-versus-nurture/feed/0Should zoos or other facilities keep animals captive?https://www.libertywings.com/should-zoos-or-other-facilities-keep-animals-captive/
https://www.libertywings.com/should-zoos-or-other-facilities-keep-animals-captive/#respondFri, 17 May 2019 22:54:13 +0000https://www.libertywings.com/?p=2622Keeping animals in captivity provides back up populations for struggling wild populations, allowing us to breed and release from these populations. But these captive populations do much more than this. They also provide opportunities to learn things about the animals that cannot be learned otherwise, thus further improving our ability to put them back into the wild. Currently many reintroduction projects have failed due to a lack of understanding about the animals themselves. Biologists have a fairly hands off mentality which is not always good for their understanding of the animals they are trying to help preserve. Usually their focus is more on studying the animal than on preserving them, and they maintain their usual scientific approach to these projects, meaning extremely slow and extremely cautious, which is not always good for the conservation of the species non the verge of extinction.

Private enthusiasts tend to be more agile, flexible and more dedicated to the preservation over study. And they tend to have an understanding of the animal the biologist rarely has. These people rarely understand the areas the biologist understands. So to me, these two groups have combined information and knowledge that is critical to helping species survive. Without dedication and participation of private falconers (the Peregrine Fund 501c3), the peregrine falcon would very likely be extinct today.

If biologist were to study cars, they would first visit some junk yards and dissect a few to study the internal parts of cars. Then they would perch themselves on an overpass and count the vehicles that pass below them. Within a few weeks they would have lots of data about how many white cars, red cars, pickups, semi’s, tow trucks, etc. were passing under the overpass. They would be proud of their data and confident they had learned important information about cars from these studies. But would they open the door and sit behind the wheel and actually drive a car? No. So their understanding would be missing some very key information about cars. This is what they do with animals also.

Zoos are wonderful public education facilities. They help expose people to wild animals. Such exposure is critical to creating public support for preserving struggling species. People will only preserve what they care about. This is very well understood in conservation circles. Educational programs with animals are immensely important to this end, be they at a zoo or privately operated at a county fair. The roughly 200 USA zoos have very limited resources, meaning limited space to house animals, limited staff to care for them and limited funding to pay for all this. They also have a fairly poor track record of breeding success compared to private breeders and they are also fairly poor at conducting conservation release programs. Zoos are very bureaucratic so are very good at displaying animals, keeping records of them and their care. But this bureaucratic nature does not allow flexibility in ways usually needed for innovative processes involved in release projects. Is it in any way reasonable to think 200 zoos are capable of preserving all the endangered species that need preserving? Obviously not. Other private facilities are needed to help fulfill this very important role in conservation.

This only happens though if there is some way for private owners to generate money from their animals. Yet in today’s climate of growing authoritarian socialistic control over private behavior and private resources, the potential and future of such facilities is steadily shrinking. More and more cities and states are adopting exotic animal bans or creating costly fee structures to force private ownership of these animals into extinction. This is often perceived as a “progressive social justice” movement but is in actual fact very short sighted degradation of our free society which will greatly contribute to the premature extinction of many endangered species.

Forwarded to Chris Biro from Curry Roberts (Board Member Virginia State Fair)

From: Sue Mullins (Entertainment Director who hired Chris Biro and The Pirate’s Parrot Show)I am getting a lot of positive feedback on the Pirate’s Parrot Show, all in the same vein as the following.Sue—– Original Message —–

Dear Friends,

My daughter Sabrina and I saw the Pirate’s Parrots show Saturday (September 25th) at the Virginia State Fair. I must admit when we saw the show listed in the program I figured it would be like all the other shows we had seen in the past where the birds walk across “high wires,” bicycle, or pull a string to hoist a flag. However, this show was not only different, it was also entertaining and educational! We arrived 15 minutes before show time and had to sit on the ground as all the bleachers were already taken. Although my first thought was that it was going to be difficult to enjoy the show under such circumstances, I became so engrossed that I wasn’t even aware of it.

“Captain Christopher” Biro did not put the birds through degrading stunts or force them to perform. It was obvious that the birds were treated with respect. He demonstrated their beauty and grace through natural flight, while educating the crowd of the affects of deforestation and the importance of recycling. Mr. Biro has excellent people skills as well as he fielded a variety of questions from a very diversified crowd and provided answers that were always educational without being demeaning.

Mr. Biro did a wonderful job showing the birds’ true nature. What a welcome relief from the sad, molding birds seen in pet stores or people’s homes. I have recommended The Pirate’s Parrot Show to all of my friends. I hope you will bring Mr. Biro back again next year. You can be sure I will visit the fair if you do.

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Email Us

chris@libertywings.com

Call Us

(206) 618-2610

Contact Us

Hello Chris and friends, I saw your show at the Lincoln County Fair (July 2008) in Newport, Oregon and couldn’t help but be thoroughly impressed. I actually embarrassed myself by coming on stage but thankfully recovered by answering your question about what makes parrots different from other birds “correctly.” I guess that ornithology class in college did pay off! Anyway I too have an affinity for birds and subsequently made a career of educating the public about wildlife in general but with particular emphasis on birds. As such I have seen my share of scary pet shops, poorly run bird shows and worse…multiple owners of parrots who don’t know the first thing about proper bird care. It’s regrettable and upsetting to say the least. Well when I came to the fair to see the poultry judging I immediately heard some parrots calling and followed the sound to your set. I looked at my husband in despair and said “great another abusive bird show.” I promptly left for another part of the fair but he decided to stay to see the show. After a half hour I returned to meet up with him to leave and he pulled me aside and told me I should really watch this show, it was good. Really good and educational too. So I hung back and watched for a few minutes, especially the birds. It was obvious they were healthy and had a bond with you. A heartening sign that you knew what you were doing up there and a great relief to me. When you asked the question about what makes a parrot different from other birds I knew an answer but wasn’t sure if that was what you wanted and I definitely didn’t want to do push-ups in front of an audience. But my husband and a friend encourage me to give it a try. I’m glad I did and I’m glad I hung around and watched the show. It was professional, educational, hands-on and I honestly felt you were weren’t “preaching to the choir” with your message about recycling and tropical rainforest destruction. It was, hands-down, the best and most informative presentation on parrots that I have ever seen. Major kudos to you and your crew. I wish you the best in your future and long-life and happiness for your flock. Dawn

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Call Us

Contact Us

August 19, 2011 Just wanted to say how much my family and I enjoyed your show yesterday. I hope to see you again somewhere. You have a great gift,awesome it being used. Hugs,Anita

August 17, 2011 We really enjoyed your show at the CCF, really loved the little ones collecting the dollars. That alone was worth the price of admission. Dave Kellogg

August 17, 2011 hi I saw ur show at the fair and gave ur birds sunflower seeds haha it was fun and ur blue troughts liked me well i really think what u do is soo cool!! Ashley Keeler

August 16, 2011

We just saw the pirate show at the Clark County Fair, and LOVED it! Can you provide their schedule? I would like to tell family members where to find them. Thanks, Cheryl

August 16, 2011 Hello, I saw your show today at the Southwest Washington Fair. You and your birds were great!!! Keep on going, everyone loves you guys! Thanks, Kacie

August 15, 2011 Thank you so much for appearing at the Clark County Fair. My family and I attended you informative show three times during your stay. It was very educational and that was the best pat of the show. Your humor and patience was much appreciated. Your message about recycle was great and how you came across with it was excellent. Pulling no punches and showing that the consequences of not recycling are deadly are just what the general public needs. Rough crowd that was on the last day, with the children crowding the stage during your show was upsetting. How your response to a child about Home School was totally misunderstood. Having a elementary school teacher in our home, my family knew exactly what you had meant. NO WORRIES o.k. Once again your show was amazing and we hope to see you again next year. Sincerely, The Howard family

August 14, 2011 Hi Chris, Both my kids and I absolutely enjoyed your Pirate Show at the Clark County Fairgrounds on Friday it was definitely the highlight of the day for us!….they enjoyed it so much that my ex, their dad, took them back today just to see your show specifically….. Your show is exceptional in the fact that not only is it interactive, and informative, with regards to care of the variety of beautiful exotic birds, it is also an environmentalist’s aspect on extinction and how we can all help in some way to prevent it…..

My cell phone was filled to capacity on Friday with so many of your beautiful birds…..and of course you the handsome Pirate! I’m wondering if I could have your permission to either sculpt or paint from the photos I took of you…..the one I especially like that I took that day has a little conure on top of your Pirate hat and two others in your hands…..I’ll have to text it to you. Denise Hollar-Hambrook Western, Native American & Wildlife Art

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Email Us

chris@libertywings.com

Call Us

(206) 618-2610

Contact Us

Hi Chris! My family and I saw you and your amazing birds at the L.A. County Fair, Pomona CA. on Labor Day weekend this year. I was blown away! What a treat to see somebody care so much about their birds, and equally interested in educating the public. Thank You for sharing those amazing birds. I hope to see you again next year.

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Email Us

chris@libertywings.com

Call Us

(206) 618-2610

Contact Us

Ray Varella is a member of the Hyacinth Breeders List, and he was sharing with the List one of his experiences he recently had with his B & G, who named Cicil. Just thought you might enjoy reading about it

For those of you that are interested or have been following Cecil’s progress, we have just returned from a flight week in Moab Utah that Chris Biro hosted.

It was a very long drive but after weighing all of the options, driving was the best mode of transport since it allowed me to bring the right supplies for the bird and myself.

The first two days were devoted to classroom presentations that covered the science behind the method of training that Chris has developed. It is sound methodology as it works with the systems that nature has evolved to give the birds every chance at success (IMHO).

After each days presentation we were taken to various sites to observe what we had been learning, several of Chris’ veteran birds were put into practice in order to illustrate the various types of experience a bird needs to ensure safe return in the varying levels.

The levels are listed as 1-5 for humans, level one is a wide open field with no obstructions for at least a 1/4 mile in every direction and easy access to the terrain, level 2 is similar but with a little gradient to the terrain, level 3 has more terrain for the birds to interact with but you still have good visibility and reasonable access in the event of a fly off. Level 4 has greatly varied terrain and the bird can get out of sight and recovery can be difficult but not impossible. Level 5 has extreme variance in terrain, the birds can get way out of sight and human access can be just about impossible, level 5 is for very advanced birds with excellent recall skills and very steady behavior.

Having Chris demonstrate the various levels and explain the importance of the birds mastering each level before progressing to the next really helps establish the criteria for setting your bird up for success. The ability for the bird to advance and retreat at his own pace was greatly emphasized.

Moab itself is a gorgeous place, it is wild, unspoiled and interesting on so many levels. People go there from all over the world to sight see, river raft, skydive, mountain bike, hike, rock climb and numerous other activities. There are fossilized dinosaur tracks as well as fantastic geological formations and interesting deposits and erosion activity. Just an awe inspiring place.

By the third day we were ready to fly our birds, there was a couple there that had two young Macaws that had never flown outdoors, they had some indoor flying experience in a covered basketball court and under watching them take their first flights was really incredible. They were set up for success and there were no mishaps, the conditions were perfect and the birds must have had their confidence bolstered by being in the right conditions at the right stage of development. It was a great thing to witness and over the next couple of days they progressed to flying in some level 3 areas, I suspect those birds will become very capable fliers if the owner keeps up the good work.

My bird did not have much interest in flying at the level 1 location, I think that being in the wide open area while it was quite warm (mid 90s) just didn’t enthuse him. When we got back up to the ranch I told Chris that I thought my bird would like to fly around his property, there was a bit of a breeze, plenty of trees, varied terrain and most of the “safety features” he has become accustomed to. Once he started flying around the property you could really see him come to life, he was flying with some of the resident Macaws and really enjoying himself.

The next few days were spent flying in the mornings, going back to the ranch to have lunch and watch the days video footage as well as view the still action pictures on a big screen tv. Chris has a great deal of experience photographing and video taping birds in flight, it added so much to the experience. To be able to have a discussion and watch reference material did wonders to help explain the written material and power point presentation we had previously studied. I can’t emphasize enough what great photographers and videographers they are.

By the morning of the 4th day of field work we were able to have Cecil flying some level 4 terrain, I was down in a canyon and would send him off, he would disappear from view up over the canyon walls and I could hear him call from off in the distance, once I called for him he had no trouble coming to find me, what a great feeling. I think the exercises we had been doing on the bicycle really made this a natural transition for him. I was quite proud of him, he was very well conditioned and even working at the altitude of the high mountain desert he was never winded.

The final day we took some warm up flights at a very nice level 3-4 location that we had flown the previous evening, then it was off to hike up onto rock outcropping that overlooked the valley. Considered level 4-4 1/2, we spent a couple of hours up there and Cecil really had fun interacting with the terrain and flocking with the other birds. It was unseasonably warm but because of where we were there was a nice breeze and great views. We saw a huge flock of numerous (close to 200 birds) different raptor species, they were riding the thermals and swarming then taking off in a single file line, a few minutes later another group appeared and did the same thing. We found out that the behavior is called “kettling” and it is a migratory phenomenon where the birds see the thermals (much the same way that we see the heat waves rising from asphalt on a very hot day) and use them to get lift before flying further on their route, what a great treat. We had 6 birds out on the rock and not one of them made a sound despite there being several species of hawks, some eagles, vultures and ravens in the mix, it was wild, something I’m not likely to ever witness again.

We stayed up on the rock for a while longer and just enjoyed the tail end of what had been a great week, my bird was spending more time in the air than the others and just doing some great flying, he was soaring and jinking and taking advantage of the extra lift the breezes were providing, just a picture perfect ending to a great trip. We went back to the ranch and watched the video and pictures from the mornings outing. It was time to get on the road and I had a very long drive ahead of me, we said our goodbyes and off I went.

When I started flying Cecil I knew I was onto something great, after this trip I can’t wait to see where it takes me. For anyone considering free flying your birds, Chris has a freeflight list that I would encourage you to join. Our group was a sort of test bed for a course that he is developing and they want to do more of these workshops in the future.

Because of the unique landscape, wild terrain, expertise of training and overall great experience I would highly recommend taking a trip to Moab, the hospitality was first rate, Chris was an excellent host and what he offers is not available anywhere else on the planet.

I have been kindly granted permission to share some of the great pictures that Chris took and will be adding them to a folder for anyone to view. I currently only have a couple of dozen but will have more in a few weeks. Hope you enjoy viewing them.

Conversation November 2010

Chris: Would you have chosen this flying location if had already taken my class?

Ray: I should also mention that I waited too long to start flying him outside. I kept hoping to find an indoor location to work with him a bit. I was nervous about the whole thing and he was several months post weaning before we ventured outside to fly.

Having witnessed Richard’s experience to compare to my experience is extremely valuable. Between your class and the model subjects I have A+ material for comparison.

In a perfect world the student would take the class when they are ready to venture outdoors with their bird, a bird that has spent some time being outside and has great recall.

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Email Us

chris@libertywings.com

Call Us

(206) 618-2610

Contact Us

After spending time in Moab with Chris Biro on two different occasions about a year apart, it becomes necessary for me to share with readers on his website about the memorable experiences that have greatly influenced my flight training style. I don’t know how to emphasize enough the invaluable and unique nature of the setting combined with an amazing opportunity to learn about the subject of free flight. Previous to meeting Chris, my knowledge was geared mainly to the basics of flying my bird outside. Chris opened my eyes to the many complexities and nuances of training, both for free flight and for behavior. Chris sat down with me and gave me an education about behavior that has come in very handy for me. Some issues he covered included in-depth use of the clicker, positive reinforcement, and applied behavioral analysis technology from an academic viewpoint to help me understand parrot behavior. Armed with more knowledge, I have been able to devise some of my own resolutions to various behavioral issues.Unfortunately, I was not able to be part of the Fly Week this year due to a schedule conflict, but I was able to study the presentation as it was offered to students. The points were offered with clear, simple logic that made perfect sense. It was so comprehensive, that in my opinion, every important topic was looked at in depth. Since the presentation was followed by out-in- the-field demonstrations, the student would come away with a solid foundation to begin a training plan tofly their bird. This is a unique opportunity that is not to be had anywhere else in the world. In fact, there are pockets of free fliers around the world that exist because of Chris.Aside from the presentations and education offered to students, the time spent with Chris in Moab was just so enjoyable. They were very welcoming hosts.The landscape and various locations we visited with all of our birds was just simply incomparable and inexplicable. So for anyone considering to free fly a parrot, consider the classes that will be offered by Chris Biro.

The website spells out a lot of the important training details, but there are so many issues to consider that the class can really make a huge difference.

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Call Us

Contact Us

I’m just writing you to thank you: with your example, my 3 months old cockatiel is easily the happiest parrot in miles around 🙂

I let Ollie in his cage outside in this late summer nights and morning, and I began to play go and come back outside.

He now freeflights around my house whenever he feels to, and i bring him (or her) at office almost daily. He’s got his own perch but I just bought a cage for the office because he sometimes gets too lively and with some client it can be quite a problem 😉

Every mornign and every evening, as soon as I reach my home door, I let him fly free (I live close to a wild area): he sometimes have a brief flight, sometimes he decides to stay on a tree and I leave him there for the morning: when I come back for lunch he calls for me and comes down from wherever he is to greet me. This is a thing I’ve longer for years 🙂

I wanted to thank you because you’re spreading your way of thinking about animals (birds in particular), explaining a totally new philosophy (at least for italians / europeans)

This is it 🙂

I have a small question too: winter here can be quite cold for an australian parrot like my cockatiel, down to 14°F by night and 32°F by day in december.. should avoid let him freelying for the winter season? Will it impact on his behaviour, making him more nervous becuase he can’t have the usual long distance flights?

I think you’re the most reliable source of information about this topic till now, please let me know what you think. Thank you again, and have a nice day!

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.

Email Us

chris@libertywings.com

Call Us

(206) 618-2610

Contact Us

My name is Jeffery McDougald and I am with the WAES group that you met with this past Sat. night in Salt Lake City. I just wanted to say thank you for the awesome display and information you gave our group. I have wanted to fly my birds for some time now and I see now that it is a real possibility. You also helped open the eyes of my girlfriend to see that it isn’t the huge no no that she was raised to hear. I can not think of anything that I would rather do than spend my time working with birds in some way and it is great to see someone living a dream that I have. It it inspiration for me to follow my dreams and hopefully someday be able to support a family and feathered family through educating others about my passion. I hope to see you again and I will have to make a trip out to Moab to see you and your birds flying free.

One in every eight bird species in the world today is in danger of extinction and these numbers are increasing! Find out how this non-profit organization started by Chris Biro can help save and protect parrots and other birds.

An Alternate Perspective – Enjoy these audio Podcasts of Chris with guests discussing the nature of training flighted birds. The discussions are intended to be loosely structured around a general topic.